Nelsons has been providing trusted natural medicines to the general public since 1860. Today, their brands are appreciated and sold all around the world. They are made with the same care and attention as they have always been, in accordance with the international regulatory standards of the day. Through their ever-growing range of brands, millions of people will enjoy naturally healthier and happier lives.

Founded in 1860, Nelsons is an independent, family-owned business with a long-standing commitment to supplying high quality natural medicines. Their aim is to make the highest quality natural medicines as widely available as possible, thereby providing a wider choice of safe and effective healthcare options for consumers.

Nelsons’ roots go back to 1860 with the opening of Nelsons Homeopathic Pharmacy supplying quality remedies, advice, and service for practitioners and the general public.

A Commitment To Quality
Nelsons is proud of their high quality and popular homeopathic remedies which continue to be prepared by traditional Hahnemannian methods. From their roots in the nineteenth century to the modern day, they continue to uphold the ever-rising quality standards of the day across their complete product range. Nelsons uses the most advanced production methods backed up by rigorous quality control procedures to create safe and effective medicines. These days their comprehensive range of homeopathic and herbal medicines are produced in specialist, licensed laboratories in Wimbledon, which operate to current Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) guidelines.

Owners of Nelsons since 1972, the Wilson family are passionately committed to complementary medicine and support a wide range of charitable initiatives in the sector.

What is homeopathy?

Homeopathy originates from the Greek words 'homeo' meaning similar and 'pathos' meaning suffering. Homeopathy is a natural and safe alternative to conventional medicine and is suitable for adults, young children and animals to use.

Homeopathy operates on the principle that 'like cures like'. It encourages a natural healing process, providing remedies to assist the patient to regain positive health by triggering the body' own natural forces of recovery. Homeopathy views any symptom as the body’s natural reaction to combat the illness and looks to stimulate rather than suppress the reaction (in contrast to allopathic medicine).

Conventional medicine seeks to treat only the symptoms of the illness. The holistic approach of homeopathy, in contrast, works by treating the whole person and taking into account their individual mental, physical, and emotional factors.

Due to the rarity of side effects, homeopathy offers a safe, harmonious and increasingly popular approach to the treatment of many common ailments and conditions.

How did homeopathy begin?

Although the basic principle of homeopathy, 'like cures like', was recognized by Hippocrates as early as the fifth century, it is the German physician Dr. Samuel Hahnemann who is credited with its development as a viable medical practice. Disenchanted with what he saw as barbaric medical practices in the eighteenth century, Hahnemann came across 'A Treatise on Materia' by Dr. Edward Cullen in which Cullen stated that quinine was an effective treatment for malaria. Intrigued, Hahnemann investigated the effects of quinine on himself and his friends and found that, in a healthy person, quinine produced the same symptoms as the disease itself - fever, sweating and shivering - whereas in an ill person it appeared to act as a cure.

Over a long period of time Hahnemann tested many different substances - animal, vegetable and mineral -on himself and noted down the symptoms produced, forming many 'drug pictures'. To test his remedies on ill people he questioned his patients closely to build up a similar picture of their symptoms that he could then match to the relevant drug picture. He discovered that the closer the match, the more successful the treatment - like cures like, the first principle of homeopathy. He named this new method of healing 'homeopathy' after the Greek words 'homeo', meaning similar, and 'pathy', meaning suffering.

Many substances that Hahnemann used were highly poisonous. To ensure their safety he developed a three-stage dilution and mixing process, called 'succussion' . By repeated dilution and succussion Hahnemann found that the more times a remedy had been diluted, the faster and more effectively it worked. This process of dilution formed the second principle of homeopathy - 'by extreme dilution the medicine's curative properties are enhanced and all the poisonous or undesirable side effects are lost.

During his research Hahnemann discovered that people varied in their responses to each remedy depending on their basic temperament. Therefore, homeopathy concentrates on treating the whole patient rather than the disease, and this became the third principle of homeopathy.

Homeopathy Today

Homeopathy today is now widely accepted as an effective treatment for many conditions. In response to consumers' growing awareness of, and demand for, homeopathy, Nelsons' conducted extensive research and development aimed at making remedies even more user-friendly. The result is the revolutionary, technologically advanced, and ergonomically innovative clikpak.

Advantages of the new dispensing method include:

• No need to touch pillules - simply click them into the cap. The pillules are delicate and handling them can make them less effective. Clicking them into the cap also makes them easier to take.
• Remedy-friendly glass storage of pillules. Because the delicate nature of the pillules needs to be protected, the inside of the clikpak is made of inert glass.

Nelsons Today 

As Europe's oldest and UK's largest manufacturer of homeopathic remedies, Nelsons produces a comprehensive range of homeopathics. This range includes:

• Individual homeopathic remedies available in the revolutionary clikpak dispenser
• Natural homeopathic and herbal topical creams for general first aid and skin conditions
• Homeopathic formulated range to treat specific conditions

Nelsons has grown steadily over the years; however, it still maintains the intimacy and friendliness of a family business committed to excellence in developing and producing natural healthcare solutions.

Topical Range
As an easy first step in to homeopathy and natural products, Nelsons provides an extensive range of creams, ointments and sprays with the aim of providing a natural complement to allopathic creams and making homeopathy accessible to all. These topical herbal remedies cover common skin conditions and gentle first aid solutions.

Formulated Range
Nelsons formulated range combines a number of remedies to create a range of products that offer easy to take relief for everyday illnesses. It has been designed with the first time user in mind and offers an effective and non-drowsy alternative to conventional drug-based medication.

Clikpak Range
Portable, convenient and easy to use homeopathic medicines should be taken regularly to be most effective. The new clikpak is therefore much better suited to a busy lifestyle. New pillule format - same Nelsons quality. The pillules are smaller and easier to take than tablets. They can even be dissolved in warm water if preferred. Their sucrose coating and small lactose core means they taste better.

Nelsons' history begins with the founding father of homeopathy himself: Samuel Hahnemann. In 1860 his student, Ernst Louis Armbrecht, moved to London from Germany and opened a homeopathic pharmacy in Ryder Street, where he was able to put into practice the principles learned from his teacher. The pharmacy soon outgrew its premises and relocated to its current location at 73 Duke Street. Ernst married Charlotte Nelson in 1866 and soon after began trading as Armbrecht, Nelson & Co., later to be abbreviated to A. Nelson & Co. Thus, the Nelsons brand was born. 

The Nelsons Homeopathic Pharmacy was to become the centerpiece of Nelsons’ heritage and experience. Nearly 150 years later the Pharmacy continues to offer help, information, support, and advice for Homeopathic and other natural healthcare needs. The building, which now includes the Nelsons Homeopathic Pharmacy Clinic, has been brought up to date in soft colors, warm wood, and Portland stone. To celebrate the refurbishment of the building in 2003, Nelsons now also offers a wide range of specially selected products that complement their heritage in natural healthcare.

Nelsons continues to offer the highest quality advice and service on homeopathy and natural healthcare for both practitioners and the general public. Today, Nelsons is Europe's oldest and largest manufacturer of homeopathic medicines.

Nelsons Enters A New Era
Nelsons has always been a family owned company. Tragically, the remaining descendants of the founding family were killed in an airplane crash in the early 1970s. Dick Wilson, who had a long-standing passion and commitment to complementary medicine, was approached to take over the company. He accepted and went on to develop help the business grow to what it is today.

In 1981, realizing there was increasing consumer demand for homeopathic remedies, he pioneered the production of the first Nelsons range of over-the-counter homeopathic medicines, the first in a growing range of natural OTC medicines.

Today Nelsons exports products to countries around the world and has subsidiary offices in Boston in the US and Hamburg in Germany. The company today is run by Dick Wilson’s oldest son, Robert, and his brother Patrick, with a team of professional, qualified, and knowledgeable employees.

At Nelsons, they use the most advanced production methods backed up by rigorous quality control procedures to create safe and effective medicines. At the same time, they uphold the traditional manufacturing methods of their products.

Nelsons' commitment to quality is supported by a strong company ethos:

• They aim to make the highest quality natural medicines as widely available as possible, thereby providing a wider choice of safe
and effective healthcare options for consumers.
• They are committed to playing their part in delivering a stronger and more appropriate evidence base for the safety and efficacy of natural medicines.
• They actively support the need for appropriate regulation of natural medicines in order to protect the consumer.
• They are passionate advocates of an integrated approach to healthcare that draws on safe complementary treatments as well as mainstream pharmacological medicines

All of Nelsons employees play a fundamental role in the growth of the business. They work to ensure each person understands the contribution they have to make and that everyone has the opportunity to share in the company’s success. They strive to recruit and retain the best, and they invest to allow their employees to develop their skills, grow as individuals and in teams, and work in a safe and professional environment.

Charitable donations and sponsorships
Nelsons supports a wide program of charitable giving and sponsorships, reflecting both their sense of responsibility towards the sector in which they work and their commitment to raising the profile and standards of complementary medicine and natural healthcare.

Since 2004, The Integrated Health Care program at the Peninsula Medical School at the University of Exeter has been supported by an unrestricted educational grant provided by Nelsons. For the past four years they have enabled The Prince of Wales’s Foundation of Integrated Health to run a successful primary healthcare program. The Nelsons bursaries help students within the UK’s Faculty of Homeopathy.

Nelsons also supports the fundraising efforts of individual employees.

Should I stop taking my conventional medicine while using homeopathy?
No. It is never advisable to stop taking conventional medicine and could potentially be very dangerous. Never stop taking conventional medicine without the advice and consultation of a doctor.

Homeopathy will not affect your conventional medicine and side effects are rare. It can be safely used in conjunction with allopathic medicine. For further information or advice regarding the simultaneous use of homeopathy and conventional medicine, ask your doctor or homeopath.

Does homeopathy replace conventional medicine?
No, homeopathy does not attempt to replace conventional medicine. The whole philosophy of homeopathy is that it is a complementary medicine. Therefore, it complements both conventional medicine and patient lifestyles.

Homeopathy offers people the opportunity to self-treat relatively minor ailments without using allopathic (conventional) medicine. They can be safely used alone or in conjunction with conventional medicine.

Homeopathic remedies offer treatments for a wide range of ailments; however, there are many areas where it may be more suitable to use a conventional medicine, particularly when treating serious medical conditions. If in doubt, patients are advised to contact their doctor or homeopath regarding their own medical circumstances.

Can animals be treated with homeopathy?
Yes. Homeopathy is as effective for animals as it is for humans. The medicines can be administered directly to the animal or can be placed in pet food.

There are an increasing number of veterinary surgeons practicing homeopathy in the UK. Addresses are available from the British Homeopathic Association in London.

Are homeopathic remedies safe for children?
Yes, homeopathic remedies are completely safe for children. In fact, even babies can take the medicines safely. The remedy should be dissolved in a small amount of water or crushed between two spoons.

Can homeopathy be taken while pregnant or breast feeding?
Although it is generally considered safe to take homeopathic medicines while pregnant or breastfeeding, they should only be taken on the advice of the patient's GP.

Can homeopathic drugs be taken with ordinary drugs?
Yes, it is safe to take homeopathy while taking allopathic (conventional) medicines.

When using homeopathy it is very important to choose the right remedy, ensuring that the symptoms manifested in the patient match most of the symptoms described by the remedy.

While it is completely safe to take homeopathic and conventional medicine simultaneously, it is advised that you consult a doctor before combining remedies.

These side effects may produce further symptoms which confuse the actual 'symptom picture' (the symptoms manifested). This may make the most appropriate remedy more difficult to diagnose. Always follow your doctor or homeopath's advice.

How should homeopathic medicines be taken?
The recommended dosage varies and should be followed according to product and potency.

The remedies should be taken between meals and drinks and should also be taken away from tobacco or any strongly flavored food or toothpaste which taints the mouth.

The remedies should be tipped directly into the mouth without being handled (this may lessen the effectiveness of the remedy) and they should be sucked, chewed, or allowed to dissolve in the mouth - do not swallow them whole.

Does taking a larger dose have a greater effect?
No. Taking a larger dose has no greater effect. The frequency of the dosage is the important factor, not the number of tablets or pillules taken.

To be effective, homeopathic medicines should be taken frequently throughout the day. Always follow the instructions on the pack regarding the dosage.

What reactions can I expect on taking the treatment?
Homeopathic medicines very rarely produce side effects. However, a slight increase in symptoms may be experienced at the start of treatment; this is known as 'aggravation' and is a harmless indication that the body's own natural healing powers are starting to work.

If this happens you should stop taking the remedies until the aggravation subsides and then restart.

If the symptoms continue to worsen after stopping the remedy, it could be that the condition is worsening and you should seek advice from your GP or pharmacist.

How do I know which potency (6c or 30c) to use?
The principles of homeopathy mean that the more dilute a remedy, the more potent it becomes.

6c means that the remedy has been diluted and succussed (shaken vigorously) six times.

30c means that the remedy has been diluted and succussed thirty times.

As a general rule, for most acute and long-standing ailments, the 6c remedies are most suitable. For emergency and many chronic conditions, the 30c remedies are better. However, it is more important to select the correct remedy than to use the right potency.

Is homeopathy effective?
Since the early nineteenth century homeopathy has proved effective for many millions of people worldwide and it has often been used successfully where other forms of medicine have failed.

In more recent years medical journals have published positive reports of the results of scientific research into homeopathy. One example of this is a study carried out by K. Linde and W. Jonas published in The Lancet  in 1997.

Is homeopathy safe?
Yes, homeopathy is considered to be one of the safest forms of OTC medicines available, as the active ingredients are present in extremely low concentrations. Homeopathy is renowned as being safe, non-toxic and non-addictive. It is not possible to overdose on homeopathic medicines and side effects are extremely rare.

Homeopathy, like many conventional tablets and pillules, has small amounts of lactose, so patients who are lactose intolerant should take care when using these products.

As with all conditions treated over the counter, patients should seek the help of their homeopathic practitioner or doctor if their symptoms persist or deteriorate.